"It's Okay Not to Be Okay", these words didn't really mean much to me until I watched this drama. I always thought of these as just another word of pity, nothing special. Which has now changed, because now it carries a story of a lifetime for me. It has become just so many things to me, that I find it difficult to express in words.
This show is one of those rare shows that leaves an empty void in my heart after it's over. I rarely get emotional over shows, since I know, for a matter of fact, that they are fiction, they lack a taste of realism, there are no happy endings because there never was a start, to begin with. But man, this story hit me like a train, it touched every emotional corner in my heart that I forgot once existed. I can't describe in words just how great and amazing of an adventure it was for me to sit and binge this show. A rollercoaster of emotions and a journey of emotional learning.

The chemistry of Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Yea Ji is phenomenal. I can't believe just how well they both fit into their characters like they're are specifically made for them and their phenomenal acting tops it off. The Eyes scene from Episode 1 gave me goosebumps. Their expressions, body language, everything was perfect. I just can't believe this wasn't real, and it was just fiction. Oh Jung Se nailed his role as Moon Sang Tae, which I believe was one of the most challenging roles in the entire drama. The way in which he portrayed the character was sheer magic. Every character in this drama fit perfectly with each other like a jigsaw puzzle.

It is said that storytelling is an art, and not everyone can do it. And Park Shin-woo is definitely a master of it. Everything about this show is perfect, the OST, cinematography, acting, scriptwriting, the chemistry between characters. The consistency of the characters and the emotional buildup were perfect. This drama picks up a very interesting way to portray trauma, people, and how it impacts their lives, and this sets them apart from the rest. Whoever came up with the fairy tale idea deserves an award. It was beautifully portrayed and well connected with the overall story. The final story - Finding the Real Face, sums everything up perfectly. I love how no character was ignored or forgotten. Someone's trauma is not more or less important than someone else's trauma everyone has their own story to tell and the journey they must travel to face and overcome their fears to grow.

"So don't forget any of it. Remember it all and overcome it. If you don't overcome it, you'll always be a kid whose soul will never grow."

I feel this drama feels so much different from my general troupe because it hits home. I can relate to everything said here on various levels. Trying to face my traumas from behind, cover them up with petty lies to feel at peace. Always be running away from them. Trying to fill this emptiness with distractions.